The Epiphany is a very big feast telling us of some very
obscure men … ‘Magi’ sounds to us a bit like magic, but they were really what
we might call astrologers, learned men of those ancient times looking to the
heavens for guidance in their understanding of worldly facts and divine providence. How many were they? Probably three because of the three distinct
presents they bore with them for the Child.
They were not ‘kings’ so far as we know, but they were considered to be
wise men who knew where to look for important truth, and after noticing a new,
wonderful star in the east, they decided to call it the King’s star, and
they followed it.
Their journey led them to the territory of the murderous
Herod, then called King of the Jews, who, having interrogated them about the
mysterious King’s star, encouraged them on their way asking that they ‘keep in
touch’ with him and his men. The Magi finally
arrived at Bethlehem where the star indicated to them their final destination. They found the Child with Mary His mother,
and Joseph her, God-given, guide and protector.
So the great feast of the Epiphany is something of a
concoction, commemorating the
manifestation of Christ to the Magi for the Western Church, and the baptism of
Christ for the Eastern Church.
The Magi were not God’s spokesmen like the prophets of
Israel, they left gifts for the Child, but no words for us; subsequently they simply
disappeared into the vagaries of history, and we have no further reason for
commemorating them, other than the fact that having followed a heavenly
phenomenon, they were the first significant people to have found the infant
Christ Whom they ‘worshipped’, as best they knew how.
So what we are really gathered here to celebrate on this
great Church festival is the revelation
that: CHRIST CHOSE TO BE INITIALLY MADE MANIFEST, not to the powerful and
mighty, but to HUMBLE shepherds and the POOR of Bethany;
He chose to make Himself known to those WILLING TO
FOLLOW GOD’S CALL WHEREVER IT
MIGHT LEAD;
to those who REVERENCE
MARY, THE MOTHER OF THIS GOD-GIVEN CHILD, and work -- ultimately with blessed JOSEPH -- for the
MOTHER AND CHILD’S, good and well-being.
Surely, dear People of God here at Mass, you can see,
that YOU are potentially included
those blessed ones there!!
People of God, let us understand aright the essence of this
divine celebration and manifestation which is the Epiphany:
Our God is unique, infinite, and transcendent in His
perfections; and yet all His perfections are able to be summed up by these
three words of St. John: GOD IS LOVE.
Words which we only we, who believe in Jesus on earth can appreciate; because the mutual embrace of love between
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is LIFE ETERNAL, which supports the total grandeur
of cosmic creation, which, above all --
through Jesus born of Mary -- inspires all beautiful human love, spiritual
aspirations, heavenly hopes, all Godly experience here on earth, and ultimately,
all divine Family expectations thanks to God-given promises.
Divine love alone embraces all that Mother Church teaches, all that the Scriptures contain, and all that the human mind can learn from Jesus and -- under the gift and grace of His most Holy Spirit – all that we can become, for the glory of Him Who is the God and Father of us all.
